The use of blogs for learning purpose
As the advanced technology of the internet, people usually express what they think on the internet. Blog is one of the ways to post your articles and notes online. This makes blog is now so popular in the world. However, I don’t think blog is suitable for learning purpose.
First, in my opinion, blog is only used in our leisure time. It is strange for me that using weblog to hand in and do my assignment in such an informal way. No one would like to discuss their homework or assignment on their blog. People prefer to show their happiness or interesting thing that they have rather than discuss their assignment on their blog. Also, if people want their blog to be more popular, they should post something exciting or stimulating on blog, but not school work.
Second, I must say that blog is not so popular in Hong Kong. One of the reason is that blog is not functional enough to fulfill the users. Compare with other social network, like Facebook, you may see the big difference between them; the functions of Facebook are variety and convenient. That is why Facebook is popular for the younger generation in Hong Kong. Therefore, blog is used rarely by me.
I admire that using blog for learning purpose, because this created a modern and technological way for students. Nonetheless, blog is not common to be used in Hong Kong. Students are now compulsive to use the blog in order to hand in their assignment. Thus, it is quite ineffective for me to use the weblog for learning.
Am I Cyborg?
Am I a cyborg? Definitely yes. Admittedly, we can live without lots of technological equipment. Our cell phone, our personal computer; we may get lost if they do not stay with us. There exist more and more cyborgs in Hong Kong. Due to the development of smart phone is advanced, people can deal with their dear all the time. The functions of smart phone are variety. You can almost do everything that you want, such as, listening to music, watching clips, playing games, checking email. Chatting with your friends is not the only function that mobile phone can offer. Therefore, it is no doubt that people can become a cyborg easily.
However, I am sure that I do not addict to be a cyborg or I might say I do not enjoyed become a cyborg. Although my mobile phone was broken, I did not buy any smart phone. The reason is I don’t want to be controlled by any technological equipment. I know that I have become a cyborg already. It is dangerous to fall deeply with a cyborg identity, because this would be harmed our normal living. That is why I don’t enjoyed to be a cyborg , though I am definitely a cyborg.
My view of this unit
When I attend my first lesson of this course, I think the topics are really interesting for me. The topics that we discussed in the tutorial class are so critical. There are great motivations for me to think more about the theories and the examples from the readings. Unfortunately, to be honest, this course is quite difficult for me. I admit that my mind is not dynamic enough to analysis the arguments sometimes, but I still like this couse.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Reflection by Samantha Chan
1) The use of blogs for learning purpose
At the beginning, I have not idea why does the course require student to use weblog to submit homeworks or presentation summary. I found its benefits gradually. (1) First of all, it provides chances for viewers to understand different angle from one topic. (2) Secondly, it is convenient for viewers to review each summary anywhere any moment. It is so great that knowledge will not be bounded by time and place as the discussions are held in the different tutorial classes. (3) It encourages students to interact with other schoolmates. It is quite interesting to know each others different perspectives.
2) Whether you regard yourself as a cyborg or not?
Yes, I am! Using internet is very common in nowadays, no matter the purpose is academic or personal. Everyone contains an online identity. For example, through using the webct unit, eveyone/ student has to log-in with its assigned usename, Teachers could check the student attendance via its sequence of log-in. That code /reference is our identity, not only the reality identity, but also a representation of the online identity.
On the other hand, like using the MSN, the online status represents one;s existance. Therefore, we are all mixed with the online and offline identity. Therefore, I think I am a cyborg no matter in which aspect.
3) What you most liked or not about the unit in general?
I think the topics that has taught is quite organised and co-related. The topic have helped us to develop angles on understanding the reality and virtual reality.
Self-Reflection and Evaluation on Weblog and Unit by CarmenlamXD
What is a cyborg? It is interesting that this question is being asked during the whole unit. In our readings, Haraway explains that cyborg is a hybrid of machine organism. Moreover, she believes that there would be no separations between bodies and objects while suggesting that people should undermine the dualities by actively exploring the possibilities of blurring the boundaries.
In this digital age, honestly, it is true that we are highly relying on technology nowadays. As for me, it is really a tough question that if I am a cyborg. Or, am I totally a cyborg? In fact, I can hardly live without the technology already. For instance, I tried to be stopped my network service due to delay of handling my payments. Suddenly, I felt so lost because it seemed to be losing the connection among my friends and family. I indeed felt that it was so insecure without the technology. Also, when I am using the technology, I believe that they are useful and also beneficial to my life. For example, when I use the digital camera, I can zoom to where I cannot normally watch. This is really good for us when attending the concert. At that time, I actually used camera as my eye and also my brain. Since it captured what I want to focus, it can also save in the memory card for my future use. Thus, the advanced technology really help me a lot and just like what Haraway said that I am a cyborg that is a hybrid of machine organism.
In this digital age, honestly, it is true that we are highly relying on technology nowadays. As for me, it is really a tough question that if I am a cyborg. Or, am I totally a cyborg? In fact, I can hardly live without the technology already. For instance, I tried to be stopped my network service due to delay of handling my payments. Suddenly, I felt so lost because it seemed to be losing the connection among my friends and family. I indeed felt that it was so insecure without the technology. Also, when I am using the technology, I believe that they are useful and also beneficial to my life. For example, when I use the digital camera, I can zoom to where I cannot normally watch. This is really good for us when attending the concert. At that time, I actually used camera as my eye and also my brain. Since it captured what I want to focus, it can also save in the memory card for my future use. Thus, the advanced technology really help me a lot and just like what Haraway said that I am a cyborg that is a hybrid of machine organism.
Certainly, with the advanced technology, it has already developed an influential relationship between the human. However, is technology as important as in developing country when compared with the developed countries? It seems that cyborg is better described a relatively privileged and advantaged class. Then this leads to a good question that does this term already imply the message of duality? It still clearly shows the power imbalance in the digital age. Thus, can it successfully break down the boundary of the dualities in the future? It is still in a huge controversy.
On the other hand, usage of blogs is a feature of this unit. It creates an alternative learning opportunities to us. It also can prove that how important the technology is. If we do not have a computer or laptop, as well as without the internet access, we can hardly participate in this learning community.
In fact, I had the habit of writing blog in Xanga. Gradually, the daily post turned to the monthly and even seasonally posting. Today I almost forget the password of Xanga. However, I am addicted to playing Facebook. I read the news feed of my friends every day rather than writing blog these days. Thus, this unit provides me a good chance to rewrite the blog and a great platform of sharing the ideas among my classmates. This leads to more understanding about me as well as my classmates. In fact, it is believed that learning from sharing. It is then a good way to learn more through the sharing on the blog. In addition, blog provides a place for us to express our idea freely of which enhance our confidence and creativity. Thus, I can gain a lot from writing blogs here.
Apart from the blogging, I have some new experience in this course. It has offered a number of issues of identity, gender and regulations in cyberspace during the learning. The most interested me should be the difference of performativity of gender in cyberspace communities. It is pleased that I am participated in the presentation of week 11 which talked about work and play. Our group focused on the topic of work. In the reading of Gregg, she suggested that women’s sense of self and identity have been changed with the help of technology such as the scheme of “working from home” and “We See” in the Microsoft advertisements. However, she finally pointed out that so-called flexibility and choice to the women still are so limited. The power imbalance in cyberspace is still so obvious. This leads to disappointment among our classmates that the duality in gender could hardly break down even if there is a more advanced technology.
Of course, the lectures have inspired me in some specific issues. It has provided an opportunity to explore my identity in a new way. Besides, there are some discussions during the lecture as well as the tutorial class. It enhanced the communication between the schoolmates while sharing our opinion openly and freely. In some issues, for example, virtual ethics, this can lead to a vigorous debate due to different ethical stand among the people. Thus, sharing different ideas, in a certain extent, can let more understanding ourselves while creating a good learning atmosphere. Thus, I indeed enjoy this unit.
Source:
Gregg, Melissa. “The Normalization of Flexible Female Labor in the Information Economy” Feminist Media Studies 8.3 (2008): 285-99.
Haraway, Donna.”A Manifesto for Cyborgs: Science, Technology, and Socialist Feminism in the 1980’s, The Haraway Reader, New York and London: Routledge (2003) 7-45.
On the other hand, usage of blogs is a feature of this unit. It creates an alternative learning opportunities to us. It also can prove that how important the technology is. If we do not have a computer or laptop, as well as without the internet access, we can hardly participate in this learning community.
In fact, I had the habit of writing blog in Xanga. Gradually, the daily post turned to the monthly and even seasonally posting. Today I almost forget the password of Xanga. However, I am addicted to playing Facebook. I read the news feed of my friends every day rather than writing blog these days. Thus, this unit provides me a good chance to rewrite the blog and a great platform of sharing the ideas among my classmates. This leads to more understanding about me as well as my classmates. In fact, it is believed that learning from sharing. It is then a good way to learn more through the sharing on the blog. In addition, blog provides a place for us to express our idea freely of which enhance our confidence and creativity. Thus, I can gain a lot from writing blogs here.
Apart from the blogging, I have some new experience in this course. It has offered a number of issues of identity, gender and regulations in cyberspace during the learning. The most interested me should be the difference of performativity of gender in cyberspace communities. It is pleased that I am participated in the presentation of week 11 which talked about work and play. Our group focused on the topic of work. In the reading of Gregg, she suggested that women’s sense of self and identity have been changed with the help of technology such as the scheme of “working from home” and “We See” in the Microsoft advertisements. However, she finally pointed out that so-called flexibility and choice to the women still are so limited. The power imbalance in cyberspace is still so obvious. This leads to disappointment among our classmates that the duality in gender could hardly break down even if there is a more advanced technology.
Of course, the lectures have inspired me in some specific issues. It has provided an opportunity to explore my identity in a new way. Besides, there are some discussions during the lecture as well as the tutorial class. It enhanced the communication between the schoolmates while sharing our opinion openly and freely. In some issues, for example, virtual ethics, this can lead to a vigorous debate due to different ethical stand among the people. Thus, sharing different ideas, in a certain extent, can let more understanding ourselves while creating a good learning atmosphere. Thus, I indeed enjoy this unit.
Source:
Gregg, Melissa. “The Normalization of Flexible Female Labor in the Information Economy” Feminist Media Studies 8.3 (2008): 285-99.
Haraway, Donna.”A Manifesto for Cyborgs: Science, Technology, and Socialist Feminism in the 1980’s, The Haraway Reader, New York and London: Routledge (2003) 7-45.
Self-Reflection and Evaluation on Weblog by Ayaka
Am I a cyborg ?
What is a cyborg? Cyborg is a hybrid of mechanism and organism, like at this moment, I am typing in this weblog, this “me” is a cyborg. For me, I do think I am a cyborg, and I have to admit that I cant live without technology, once I am using those device, I am cyborg, but when I am not using them, I am a human. But with more and more technology take part in your life, you cannot live without it coz it was so convenient, but it also blur the boundary of human and technology at the same time. So , its important for use to separate our human identity and cyborg identity. I do think I am a cyborg, but I think my human identity is far more important and significant than my cyborg identity. Its important to identity what is human and what is machine, coz if we do not do so, we will lose our identity.
Use of blog
To be frankly,, I do not think this blog can help me in learning this unit, it only added my work load. Its good to have a platform to communicate with my classmate on something academic, but only when it was voluntary, especially with that much workload in this semester. If the purpose of this weblog is to encourage to think more and express our self more, then , I think it will be better if we do it in class.
My view in this unit
Before I study this unit , I have no idea what is a cyborg. After the first lesson, I know what is a cyborg and the first word come to my mind is “crazy”, the concept of cyborg were so innovative and freak me out… !! but with this unit , I can have more and more understanding on cyborg, this force me to rethink the world and the way we use the machine. Actually , I don’t think this unit is practical, but I have to admit that it inspire me to think more about what is human and what is machine. The reason I don’t think this course is useful because, no matter what is your stance on the relationship between human and technology, you are still under the exited social norms, like you may be seen as a freak if you say yourself is not a human, but a machines or a hybrid of human and technology. Maybe someday, the technology is so advance that human is a part of technology or technology is a part of human, but not today. Of course we have to be longsighted, but even if our mind do so, our body still live in 21 century, and have to follow the social norms. So in conclude, I think this unit is particle in mind but useless in psychical body.
Self-Reflection and Evaluation on Weblog and Unit by Annnnnnnnnnn
“Are you a cyborg?” I still remember when Franco asked this question in the very beginning of this course. To be frank, I think this was a crazy question! Especially when I was told that “a cyborg is a cybernetic organism, a hybrid of machine and organism, a creature of social reality as well as a creature of fiction. Social reality is lived social relations, our most important political construction, a world-changing fiction.” “Oh my goodness! This is too crazy for me.” (and when I tried to type the word “cyborg” in the Microsoft Word, a red line underlines the word… I was thinking that, “do I need to study a word with red line for the whole semester?...)
I have to admit that this subject is just funnier than I expected! I studied a course about “gender” before entered university. I was shocked by the lectures and theories that I have not even thought of “who am I?” before that gender course. I thought my philosophy to lives has already been changed a lot, and when I see and think about myself and my identity is not as simple as before. Although I have a new concept on myself, I have never thought that I might be a cyborg! After 12 weeks, everytime when I think about what Franco asked us whether we are cyborg, my feeling that “I am.” is getting more and more obvious. I remember the concepts of “online and offline identities” in the course, almost everyday I am using these two identities to live; I remember the concepts of virtual ethics, do something about the Internet or other new technologies we youngsters have get used to equal to something ethically right? I remember the concepts of the technologies blurring the boundaries of the public and private space… New theories and concepts taught in this course give me a brand new way to think about myself, my identity(or identities) even identities of people around me. And finally I think that I am a cyborg. I use computer to express my point of views (like now I am typing the reflective blog); I use other virtual identities to log in and play online games; when I use my webcam on my notebook to chat with my friends, I feel like what Eileen and Adam say, my body seems really plug into the machine and is connected to the mechanics of her equipment. This statement must be very horrible for people who read at the first time (like what I feel before) but after studying this subject for 12 weeks, I think it is so real to me. Moreover, in fact many of us could not be live without the technologies like computers nowadays. We use it to send email to friends, lecturers, people we want to contact at once etc. We can shop online, we can pay school fees online, we can buy movie tickets on the webpage of the cinema.... What we look for now is about "instant", we want everything fast and we just could not wait for more than a second. Technologies help us a lot and eventually most of us could not live without them. We are so relying on them, and therefore the boundaries between we and technologies are becoming more and more unclear. I am not saying that we are the same thing, however, they seem to be part of us now.
For the weblog we used in this course, in my opinion, it is quite interesting to use this weblog to “hand in” our assignments. When I was in secondary school, I typed diaries online using social network like “Xanga” or “Yahoo Blog”. That was rather “private place” for me to express my opinion that I set passwords so as to only allow my good friends to read. Moreover, those online blogs were only about my feelings on something in daily life, which were written in an informal ways like tying “oral” Chinese or English to express. However, the weblog used in this subject is just so different from my previous weblogs. We classmate use this weblog to express our views about something which is related to academic, publicly discussing those topics in a serious way. We do not afraid to let other classmates to know what our opinions are, but willing to discuss in a harmonious way. I think the weblog is very useful for our study and it is worth introducing other subjects to use a weblog like this one for students to express their point of views whenever they get accessed to Internet. As it is common for young people to stay late and do not sleep but using computers till midnight. (Maybe our brains function best in this stage? Hahaa..) And if they do, whenever we got some thoughts about this subject, we could post them on the weblog at once to share with all the classmates and do not need to wait until the next lecture! After all, though some concepts in this course are quite difficult and complicated to understand, they inspire me to think again what my identity is.
A Cyborg Speech by Oscar Kwan
A Cyborg Speech
I am a cyborg. According to Dr. Donna Haraway, "A cyborg is a cybernetic organism, a hybrid of machine and organism". Although I am not fitted with a heart pacemaker, intraocular lenses or an insulin pump, I am the human-technology mixtures in the abstract. Hence, I would call myself a “Social Cyborg”. Actually, the full term "cybernetic organism" is used to describe larger networks of communication and control. Cybernetic technologies include highways, pipes, buildings, electrical plants, libraries, and other infrastructure that we hardly notice, but which are critical parts of the cybernetics that we work within. In nowadays internet world, many people have engaged in the online community, we communicate with each other in the social network and absorb new things through internet. Therefore, not only me being a cyborg, but the citizens in contemporary world are all cyborgs.
Evaluation of this Unit
In today’s digital age, it is essential to think twice to figure it out what is our identity in the cyberspace. This unit brainstorms us to identity the 'self' in cyberspace, it helps us to understand the communicative environments of the digital age to examine their impact on identity, with particular emphasis on gender, sexualities, race and class. By applying the theory and practice relating to identity, the unit considers different central issues in nowadays cyberspace such as constructing the self in the digital world, youth, gender and cybercultures and the performativity of gender, sexualities and difference in cyberspace communities.
Self-Reflection on Self-identity in the Cyberspace
After studying this unit, I understand more about the self-identity in the cyberspace. As defined by Hayles in topic 12 “Posthuman”, it suggests that posthuman will not only simply a combination of a flesh body and wires, but having an interaction with the intelligent environment we live and work in. meanwhile, through this unit, I learn more about the gender and difference in online environments. It provides a comprehensive understanding of gender study in nowadays digital world, which enrich my knowledge for my programme of communication studies.
The exploration of my self-identity in the cyberspace would not be end with this unit, this unit is just a guide for me to explore our digital world and I would like to further grope for other aspects of studies in the cyber world.
self-reflection and evaluation by jessie
Am I a cyborg?
Although I have any idea or concept about cyborg, after the very first lecture and introduction by Franco, I strongly feel that I am a cyborg. At one point, at least, I “talk” through a computer. According to the manifesto written by Dr. Donna Haraway, cyborg is defined as “a cybernetic organism, a hybrid of machine and organism”. This definition may give us the imagination of the characters in science fiction that human with robotic body or robot with human emotion, however, in my understanding, when technologies come closer and closer, our extension of embodiment goes further and further, it is impossible for us to deny that we are a cyborg. In my personal experience, telephone is a very good example. On one hand, when telephone comes closer and closer, from the telegram somewhere far away from our home, to the day that every home have a telephone, to everyone have a mobile; from the day that we need to “pick up the phone, until we invented in-ear hand-free, how communication works today is just like what we see in the science fiction: without the body but with and machine. When telephone had not yet invented that we still used to communicate with people face to face or we write, but until the invention of telecommunication, we started to communicate with a machine. Today, it is just commonplace that we love texting more than talking: we talk by our hand and listen by our eyes. Although I do not play webcam, I just feel like I am Jennifer Ringley. The change in every day embodied experiences in the technological environment is merely proving that we are cyborg in every second.
How I see this weblog?
Weblog is not a new thing for me, however, a new way to study. Usually I see weblog as a personal and private place that contains only personal experiences and emotion; therefore, I tend not to regard weblog as unofficial and not a good source for academic. As it is said “medium is the message”, studying on weblog seem hidden the meaning of “unofficial” and “personal”. It could change my attitude toward study. I think weblog can be a place for inspiration and discussion, however, not a serious place for academic study.
On the other hand, the use of weblog under this course seems a practical experience for being a cyborg. Once again, I feel like I am talking by our hand and listening by our eyes. My voice has become codes in the computer and I listened my classmates’ opinions through my eyes. Therefore, although weblog is rather unofficial, I think it triggers us to think more about the relationship between human, technology and life.
How I see this subject
I think this subject is a good introduction/ semi-conclusion for us who are used to living as a cyborg. The unit covers wide aspect and encourages us to seriously reflect upon our everyday life and the appropriate or possible relationship between human and technology. The subject is inspiring that the aspects which are discussed are too common that we may easily overlook. For example, the moral on the Internet, the boundary between private and public, gender relationship and how we will go in the future. These all questions are very important for us who live under the digital age.
Although I have any idea or concept about cyborg, after the very first lecture and introduction by Franco, I strongly feel that I am a cyborg. At one point, at least, I “talk” through a computer. According to the manifesto written by Dr. Donna Haraway, cyborg is defined as “a cybernetic organism, a hybrid of machine and organism”. This definition may give us the imagination of the characters in science fiction that human with robotic body or robot with human emotion, however, in my understanding, when technologies come closer and closer, our extension of embodiment goes further and further, it is impossible for us to deny that we are a cyborg. In my personal experience, telephone is a very good example. On one hand, when telephone comes closer and closer, from the telegram somewhere far away from our home, to the day that every home have a telephone, to everyone have a mobile; from the day that we need to “pick up the phone, until we invented in-ear hand-free, how communication works today is just like what we see in the science fiction: without the body but with and machine. When telephone had not yet invented that we still used to communicate with people face to face or we write, but until the invention of telecommunication, we started to communicate with a machine. Today, it is just commonplace that we love texting more than talking: we talk by our hand and listen by our eyes. Although I do not play webcam, I just feel like I am Jennifer Ringley. The change in every day embodied experiences in the technological environment is merely proving that we are cyborg in every second.
How I see this weblog?
Weblog is not a new thing for me, however, a new way to study. Usually I see weblog as a personal and private place that contains only personal experiences and emotion; therefore, I tend not to regard weblog as unofficial and not a good source for academic. As it is said “medium is the message”, studying on weblog seem hidden the meaning of “unofficial” and “personal”. It could change my attitude toward study. I think weblog can be a place for inspiration and discussion, however, not a serious place for academic study.
On the other hand, the use of weblog under this course seems a practical experience for being a cyborg. Once again, I feel like I am talking by our hand and listening by our eyes. My voice has become codes in the computer and I listened my classmates’ opinions through my eyes. Therefore, although weblog is rather unofficial, I think it triggers us to think more about the relationship between human, technology and life.
How I see this subject
I think this subject is a good introduction/ semi-conclusion for us who are used to living as a cyborg. The unit covers wide aspect and encourages us to seriously reflect upon our everyday life and the appropriate or possible relationship between human and technology. The subject is inspiring that the aspects which are discussed are too common that we may easily overlook. For example, the moral on the Internet, the boundary between private and public, gender relationship and how we will go in the future. These all questions are very important for us who live under the digital age.
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